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Toward an Enacted Approach to Understanding OSS Developer's Motivations

Author

Listed:
  • Régis Meissonier

    (CERGAM - Centre d'Études et de Recherche en Gestion d'Aix-Marseille - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - UTLN - Université de Toulon)

  • Isabelle Bourdon

    (Systèmes d'information - MRM - Montpellier Research in Management - UM1 - Université Montpellier 1 - UPVM - Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 - UM2 - Université Montpellier 2 - Sciences et Techniques - UPVD - Université de Perpignan Via Domitia - Groupe Sup de Co Montpellier (GSCM) - Montpellier Business School)

  • Emmanuel Houze

    (MRM - Montpellier Research in Management - UM1 - Université Montpellier 1 - UPVM - Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 - UM2 - Université Montpellier 2 - Sciences et Techniques - UPVD - Université de Perpignan Via Domitia - Groupe Sup de Co Montpellier (GSCM) - Montpellier Business School)

  • Stephane Boudrandi

    (CHERPA - Croyance, Histoire, Espace, Régulation Politique et Administrative - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - Institut d'Études Politiques [IEP] - Aix-en-Provence)

Abstract

A large part of the existing literature on Open Source Software (OSS) projects identifies the motivation factors predicting the participation level of members. However, the effective satisfaction of developers toward their project still remains a managerial and theoretical challenge. So, it is also consistent to assess how the effective participation of developers in OSS projects makes sense of their own motivations. This article uses the enactivist approach and considers that motivations are not simple antecedents to actions but are shaped by actions as well. The empirical analysis delivers the results of a survey administrated to participants of business OSS projects. The results reveal reputation, reciprocity and expected professional opportunities as the most positively influenced variables. However, learning motivations and ideology toward open source beliefs and values are the lesser influenced ones. These results counterbalance prior empirical researches which have observed a strong predicting power of both variables on expected participation level of participants. This study suggests that participation seems to make sense regarding motivations for which developers have some visible indicators of their personal achievement.

Suggested Citation

  • Régis Meissonier & Isabelle Bourdon & Emmanuel Houze & Stephane Boudrandi, 2012. "Toward an Enacted Approach to Understanding OSS Developer's Motivations," Post-Print halshs-00823509, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00823509
    DOI: 10.4018/jthi.2012010103
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    Cited by:

    1. Dorota Celińska, 2016. "Who is forked on GitHub? Collaboration among Open Source developers," Working Papers 2016-15, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw.

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